Claims
- 1. A system for testing multi-chip modules (MCMs), comprising:
a magazine input location configured to receive a magazine containing a plurality of MCMs; a magazine output location configured to receive a magazine emptied of MCMs; a magazine drive configured to advance a magazine from the magazine input location, through an indexing station and to the magazine output location; the indexing station including an indexing head configured and oriented to singulate and guide an MCM from a magazine to a test station as the magazine is advanced through the indexing station; the test station including a test head, the test head including a plurality of test contacts configured to engage an MCM presented at the test station, wherein the test station is configured to administer a predetermined test to an engaged MCM through the plurality of test contacts; at least a first MCM output location configured to allow passage of MCMs passing the predetermined test; and at least a second MCM output location configured to allow passage of MCMs not passing the predetermined test, wherein the at least a first MCM output location, the at least a second MCM output location, the magazine input location and the magazine output location are mutually remotely located.
- 2. The system of claim 1, further including an MCM locating device associated with the test station configured to positively align an MCM for engagement by the plurality of test contacts.
- 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the MCM locating device includes at least one locating pin extendable through at least one tooling hole of the MCM presented at the test station.
- 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one locating pin comprises two locating pins disposed on a carriage selectively movable toward and away from the presented MCM engaging and disengaging two tooling holes thereof.
- 5. The system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of test contacts are carried on clamp elements movable toward and away from the presented MCM.
- 6. The system of claim 1, further including an inclined output track having a bottom, planarly aligned with and sloping downward from the test station.
- 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least a first MCM output location further includes at least one module stop associated with the output track positioned to selectively stop an MCM moving therethrough.
- 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least a first MCM output location further includes a selectively openable outlet associated with the at least one module stop configured to release a stopped MCM through the output track bottom.
- 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the selectively openable outlet comprises an aperture covered by a slide gate.
- 10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a shipping tray carriage movable under the output track along a path and a shipping tray including a plurality of module receptacles, the shipping tray being secured to the carriage such that the module receptacles are sequentially alignable with the selectively openable outlet.
- 11. The system of claim 8, further including an outlet at the bottom of the output track wherein the at least a second MCM output location includes a bin associated with the outlet at the bottom of the output track.
- 12. The system of claim 1, further including a controller for controlling operation of the system.
- 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the magazine input location further includes a magazine input station comprising a magazine input zone configured to receive a plurality of substantially vertically stacked magazines, an elevator configured to lower a lowermost magazine in the input zone at an elevation greater than a height of a magazine to a lower elevation for engagement by the magazine drive, and selectively actuable retention elements arranged to retain a magazine at the greater elevation.
- 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the magazine output location further includes a magazine output station comprising a magazine input zone configured to receive a plurality of substantially vertically stacked magazines, an elevator configured to raise a lowermost magazine in the input zone to an elevation greater than a height of a magazine from a lower elevation for disengagement from the magazine drive, and spring-biased retention elements arranged to retain a magazine at the greater elevation.
- 15. The system of claim 1, wherein the magazine drive comprises at least one movable belt extending between the magazine input location and the magazine output location through the indexing station, said at least one movable belt having structure thereon formed to engage cooperative structure associated with a magazine being moved by the at least one movable belt.
- 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one movable belt comprises two parallel and laterally spaced movable belts.
- 17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a structure located between the two laterally spaced movable belts configured to lift an MCM carried by a magazine when aligned with the indexing head to release the MCM from the magazine for guidance by the indexing head.
- 18. The system of claim 1, wherein the magazine drive is configured to maintain a magazine driven thereby in an angular orientation.
- 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the magazine drive is configured to maintain the driven magazine at an angle of approximately 35° from horizontal.
- 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the magazine input location and the magazine output location are configured to be at substantially the same elevation.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/726,084, filed Nov. 29, 2000, pending, which is a division of application Ser. No. 09/065,799, filed Apr. 23, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,229,323, issued May 8, 2001.
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09065799 |
Apr 1998 |
US |
Child |
09726084 |
Nov 2000 |
US |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09726084 |
Nov 2000 |
US |
Child |
10118843 |
Apr 2002 |
US |